Sept. 9, 2008 - Texas Instruments (TI) has created a new microcontroller chip that could boost energy efficiency in a wide range of products from LED lights to hybrid cars.

Costing under $2 each in volume, The new Piccolo line of microcontrollers are designed to replace multiple electronic components in many appliances, providing advanced power management functions for just a fraction of the price, according to TI. The microcontrollers cost less than $2 each when bought in bulk.

Smarter power management for certain electronics can help customers save big on electricity costs. For example, the microcontrollers can help regulate power line communications for street light networks, allowing cities to centrally manage lighting based on the time of day, traffic, or weather conditions.

"The combination of 32-bit performance, enhanced peripherals and small package sizes allows designers to add real-time control and system management using just one microcontroller to applications that could not afford it previously," says Keith Ogboenyiya, TI marketing manager.

The first Piccolo microcontrollers will be available for sampling in December and will include 40 to 60 MHz variations and up to 128 KB Flash memory, among other features.

For more information on TI's microcontrollers, click here.